On The Line with CPL

It's the return of On the Line!

Cranston Public Library is excited to bring back On the Line for Poetry Month in honor of the winning poems from the 2025 Notable Works Poetry Contest.

Call 401-900-1090 to listen. Recordings stay up for one week.

Call to listen on April 15:
Third Place: "Anisoptera" by Zachary M. Berger
Zachary M. Berger is a librarian devoted to public service, his husband, and their four rescue dogs (not necessarily in that order). He lives near coastal Rhode Island and worries about its longevity. He co-hosts the monthly Words on Fire Open Mic at the William Hall Library and tries to be more disciplined about regularly submitting his own poetry for publication.

Call to listen on April 22:
Second Place: "White Noise" by Monique Cellemme
Monique Cellemme, a music teacher and writer, has always loved the interplay between song
and words. Her poetry has been published in Rhode Island Bards Anthology 2024, The Cowl, and
by Notable Works. She was a winner of the Notable Works Poetry Contest and a 2024 finalist for
the CALYX Lois Cranston Poetry Prize. Monique holds degrees in music education from
Westminster Choir College and Providence College. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband
and two sons.

Call to listen on April 29:
First Place: "In Concert" by Diana Cole
Diana Cole, a Pushcart Prize nominee, has been published in over 60 poetry journals including
Poetry East, Spillway, Main Street Rag, Cider Press Review, The Public's Radio 89.3, Blueline,
Friends Journal, Verse Daily, The New Verse News, and Orison Books. Her chapbook Songs By
Heart was published in 2018 by Iris Press. In 2024 she was awarded 2nd place in Notable Works
Poetry Initiative. For the past five years she was an editor for The Crosswinds Poetry Journal.
Her full-length book, Between Selves, was released in the summer of 2023 by Indian Press,
Cyberwit.net. More information at dianacolepoets.com.

Call to hear a new poem each week!

401-900-1090

CPL is pleased to bring poetry to our patrons, all without leaving the comfort of home—no Internet, computer, or smart phone required.

A recorded, previously published poem, read by CPL staff, will be available each week (usually on Tuesday afternoons). Call 401-900-1090 to listen. Sometimes we will record a (very) short story or essay instead of a poem, so be sure to check back weekly to hear what’s in store.

Do you have a suggestion for a great poem*? We’d love to hear about it. Questions or comments about this service can be emailed to ontheline@cranstonlibrary.org. (opens email)

Click here to read a list of On the Line's recorded poems. (opens in new tab)

Want to learn more about poetry? Try some of these free online resources:

• PBS Poetry in America (opens in new tab)
  
• Poetry Foundation Collections
• Poetry Magazine podcast (opens in new tab)
  
• International Poetry Circle on Twitter (opens in new tab)
  
• Cave Canem (opens in new tab)
  
• Poetry Society of America Resource Page (opens in new tab)
  
• Poets & Writers (opens in new tab)
  
• Poetry Project (opens in new tab)

Please note: Children are not the target audience for this service. Recordings will always be family-friendly but might contain reference to complex or abstract themes.

Cranston Public Library is indebted to staff at Princeton Public Library for the inspiration for this service and the sharing of expertise.

*At least one published work by the poet must be owned by at least one Ocean State Libraries location as found in the online catalog (opens in new tab).

Call 401-900-1090 to listen to a new poem each week!